Shallow relationships abound. Fake friendships fill our social media. The people who genuinely know us are a sacred few.

For me, the definition of a deep relationship is twofold.

A real friend knows what makes you laugh and what makes you cry. They know what brings you joy and what brings you pain. They know what jokes to tell and when to give you a hug.

Until you have someone like that, you lack the meaningful connection you need.

Until you become someone like that to someone else, you are not the friend you claim to be.